Mexico, Monterrey West Mission

Mexico, Monterrey West Mission

Monday, June 27, 2011

Transfer 5, Week 1 (same area - Piedras Negras)


Hey so here I am in the same area.  Changes came and they threw me a new companion in this area. It has been awesome, we had a good week.  A little about my companion: He is 26 years old, born a member.  He is awesome. When we got to the house the first night, he put his luggage on the bed and said, "Let's go to work".  That's all I needed to hear.  We have had a good week. He told me the president put him here in this time so that he could lose some weight. This week I tightened my belt loop a hole. So the update of the people - I have been hearing that this is the hottest part of Mexico in this time that they call the ¨canicula¨.  Well, we found a lady this week.  When we started teaching, she told one of her boys to come out and greet us, one came out, then another, then another, and then one more. So we have a family of 4 boys over the age of 8 and a mother that we're crossing our fingers with. The problem is, she said she has to talk with her husband. We have an appointment with them tomorrow so pray for them. That is this week briefly. I am short on time because we played soccer as a zone this morning. 
Love you all. - Elder Warner


Mexico's dog of the week. She´s pretty, isnt she? 

 I found out what these stores are with the giant beer posters - they are drive through beer stations. 

Monday, June 20, 2011

Last Day of Transfers!



Hey! So to be honest it was just one of those weeks. Nothing really too exciting happened. On the 16th we marked a year ago that I got my mission call. I reflected on the feelings of that time. Not only the feelings of absolute astonishment because we had just gotten back from Cancun and I thought Monterrey was going to be the exact same. But the feelings of sitting at work waiting anxiously to recieve your call telling me the letter came. The feeling of seeing my complete name on that envelope with the title Elder in front. I thought about how that event occurred over a year ago, from reading the sentence Mexico Monterrey West Mission to actually being here in that place I once read. It all happens too fast. Well, I have also been thinking lately that my emails are boring and somewhat lame. So help me with advice of things that could spice it up everyweek. Something that anyone who reads this wants to know about anything. I'll start throwing in little details. The little things that pass by everyweek. This week i thought about when you see on movies the meditation people who walk on burning coals barefoot. I found it rather exactly similar to my black leather dress shoes walking on the black asphault in Mexico. So today during P-day, we were walking and saw a taco shop. The district leader ordered this thing called a torta. It's barbacoa. But barbacoa is not the same barbacoa in Utah, what you all think. It's all the meat on a cows face. As he was eating, I deeply thought about how I need to man up and order one. So I went up to the guy and asked for one, then backed out and told him never mind. The district leader called me a little girl so I went back and gave him ten pesos (a dollar) and walked back with this meat of cow tongue in between this bread. Sat down and almost started crying (about the time the picture was taken). I took a bite and thought I was going right back out but I held it like a true Mexican. That completes this week. I'll let you know next week if I'm still here or if I get transferred. Until then have an awesome week. ¡les amo! - Elder Warner

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Letters Home

Dear Family,
"I've been studying Alma and his words of being a missionary. I like to compare his experience to mine, simply because of the sacrifices he made for this work. Alma and Amulek risked their lives and suffered to testify of Christ and speak through the spirit of Prophecy. From the days of Alma to the Missionary guide today, "Preach my Gospel" missionary work has always been centered on the Gifts of the Spirit. That is one of the things that I love and what divides us from the rest is that nothing has changed in this Gospel since the day Jesus Christ organized it".
"This work is hard. Very, very hard. But it could be harder. In these days we have it easy. We're not thrown into prison for preaching. It's similar in my mission because like the Nephites, we try to avoid 'weapons of war' from the Lamanites (Cartel). But that's about the only similarity of ages. (Just kidding, mom)"
I'm in a very hard area, at a hard time. But I've stepped back and been able to literally see the silver lining of what the Lord has in store for me. I've seen the blessings that He is patiently waiting to give me if I have the strength to fulfill the little of what He asks of me."
"I know that this is His work and I know this is the time He has provided me with! If I didn't, I wouldn't walk out into the 11 o'clock Mexican sun everyday. I am so grateful for you all. For your undying support that helps me through alot of this work. I love you all. Have a good day."
Your son, Elder Warner

Dear Dad,
My greatest blessing in life is being where I am right now. This Gospel means everything to me, it is my life. From learning what is important in this life, and gaining personal testimony of this Church are things that you have taught me. Without these two things, I wouldn't be out here. This is why I thank you for changing my life, for paving the way by example, without the knowledge of my observance, for teaching me without using any words and now I am here to share these teachings of what matters in this life to any who will listen. Happy Fathers Day.
Love, your son, Bryan

Monday, June 13, 2011

Baptism!!


Hello! How are you? Ok, so remember when I was talking about one of the investigators that was wanting to learn more etc? She got baptised on Saturday!! She hesitated for a long time cause she wanted to know more and she was scared that after, she was going to start up drinking again. The district leader and I taught her a lot the week my comp was out and the district leader just spiritually annihilated her to the point where she knew she had to get baptised. We taught her every lesson and more to the point where our visits were just sharing a scripture and leaving her with a chapter to read in the Book of Mormon. I worked a lot with the district leader this week as well. He called me and told me we're going on divisions and he was coming to work with me. It was fun and we got alot done and found some new people that we have been working with a lot lately. I also did divisions with the zone leader for a few days. It was fun. He's a goofy kid. really animated. We were walking and he congratulated this woman holding her baby for her family, then just looked at her and walked off, just goofy like that. Then one day we were walking (he talks to literally everyone) and passed by this gang. I see him walk towards them and just say in my head, "oh please no", wondering if I should hide or go talk to them with him. So I went over and we invited them to the church and then at the end one of them told me the name of their gang and if they ever need anything to shout and he will be there (then made a signal with his hands as a gun next to his friends head) Yah, we walked off after that. The heat has gone down, we're at about the hundreds so that has been nice. We're all foot now cause the cops stole my comps bike. That's my week. We're on the last week of this transfer already. I have heard that I'm going to Monterrey, but then I have heard I'll be staying here for another change so we'll see what happens. I hope you all have an awesome week! Elder Warner

Mother,
Hey my sweetheart! how are you!? Ok, so I got your answers here finally!
What do I think about everything? My thoughts are constantly running. I dont have time to think, haha. But my thoughts revolve around the frame of the picture. I like thinking about what's the cause, the blessing, the outcome, the result and so on about things.
Sr comp. It's not too much different, you carry a phone in your pocket and work more with the leaders but the main responsibility is to ALWAYS BE BUSY with your companion. you just always have to be an example to work hard.
The area - I read somewhere that no area is a dead area. The president puts missionaries in this area because he knows there is work to do. This area is just harder to find the work but there is work.
The ward is good and we have worked with them more lately so we've gotten to know them better.
I do feel safe, even when the marines are tackling drunk guys by the river while we're contacting, I dont feel in any way of harm.
Tracting has been harder here, we have had to find different ways of missionary work for this area.
I got my package and had a sister in the ward make the cake! So thank you so much for that!
I love you i hope you are doing well. Let me know how your week was and how work is going. Can't wait to hear! -Elder Warner

Monday, June 6, 2011

Week 5, Transfer 3

Hey, so this week was one of my more successful ones. Well, actually nothing turned out at all, but I felt like it was successful. Well, for my companion, he chilled in bed all week, I had to stay with him Monday night. Tuesday came and I felt just as worn out at as a regular day from calling every Elder in the zone to see if they had a teenager with the Priesthood so that I could get out with them and work. Unfortunately, not until Thursday. But I was able to get out 4 of 3 days to work this week from the help of 2 kids we found from around the area. On Thursday we had one kid stay with my companion at home and the other with the District leaders companion. I went out with the District leader and we destroyed the area. On Friday we were able to get the same 2 kids but I went out with a different Elder. Saturday I went out with the District leader again. We had an appointment at 9 in the morning, so we worked from 8:30 that day to 10:00 p.m. We were drained. Sunday came and we had 5 investigators with committments to the church. The only problem is I had to figure out how I was getting there. I wasn't worried cause I did my part and knew it was the Lords turn to work it out. So one of the ward members who is a taxi driver dropped his son off to stay with my companion and I went with him. We passed by the first investigators house and she was sleeping. The other one, no one was home. Likewise, with the third. The forth investigator got in a fight with another woman and wasn't physically able to go. The fifth never showed at church, but we found out she went to a different ward so it's all good. We have baptism dates for 2 of them next week and are confident in both of them. Other than that Wednesday was the Zone conference. I loved it! I love our Mission President and his wife is awesome! I learned a lot but they are also really fun. With the video attached, because it was my birthday, they made me dance. The Mission President's wife made lasagna for all of us. It was heaven. That's about the week. I hope all is well at home!
Elder Warner